Jewelry clasp



P 1961 o. v. ANDERSON 3,001,258

JEWELRY CLASP Filed Dec. 17, 1958 'lllllllflllll/llllllllfld INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,001,258 JEWELRY CLASP Olof V. Anderson, Forge Road, North Kingston, RJ. Filed Dec. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 781,086 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-252) This invention relates to jewelry clasps, and more part cularly to such clasps which are adapted to hold a necktie in proper position in relation to the shirt front.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved jewelry clasp adapted to hold the inner or narrow portion of a necktie in proper alignment with the outer or wider portion, and approximately centered with respect thereto; and be securely clipped to the shirt front.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clasp with a novel method of construction which reduces the cost of manufacturing and which permits the clasp elements to be employed in a wide variety of jewelry items such as necktie clasps, money clips, etc.

And still another object of the present invention resides in providing a jewelry clasp which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and be pointed out in part in the following specification and claims.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing how the new and im proved jewelry clasp is used to hold the depending parts of a four-in-hand tie to a shirt front.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view showing the ornamental face of the new and improved jewelry clasp.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational View of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2. 7

FIGURE 5 is a detail perspective view of the pivotal aw.

FIGURE 6 is a detail perspective view of the spring member.

Referring to the drawings; a body member (generally U shaped), in the form of a jaw and generally indicated by reference character 11 consists of an ornamental face 12, a bight portion 13, and a platform portion 14. Platform portion 14 is provided with oppositely disposed upturned ears 15, 16 and oppositely disposed retaining lugs 17, 18. Ornamental face 12 may be ornamented or it may be the surface to which an ornamental member may be attached. Bight portion 13 serves the dual function of positioning platform portion 14 generally parallel to and spaced from the back 20 of ornamental face 12.

A pivotal jaw, generally indicated at 21 (see FIGURE 5) is provided with oppositely projecting trunnions 22, 23 which are pivotally mounted in cars 15, 16, respectively. The body of pivotal jaw 21 is provided with a thumb pressing area 24, a toothed face 25, and two spaced apart parallel slots 26, 27.

A spring member, generally indicated by reference character 30 (see FIGURE 6) and fabricated from a strip of flat spring material is bent upon itself into a general U shape having a slight bend or flare 31 on one end to provide a recess or seat 32. The bight portion 33 of the base of the U provides the active area for spring member 30. Spring member 30 is attached to pivotal jaw 21 by passing end 34 through slot 26 and by passing ice bent end 31 through slot 27 so that seat 32 abuts the edge of slot 27. Trunnions 22, 23 are pivotally mounted in upturned ears 15, 16 with the bottom of spring member 30 abutting platform portion 14. Retaining lugs 17, 18 are folded over to engage and secure spring member 30 in position as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The inherent resiliency in bight portion 33 tends to cause the U to open, thereby forcing pivotal jaw 21 to pivot on trunnions 22, 23 until teeth 25 engage back 20. The tie and shirt front will pass between and be held between teeth 25 and back 20 with a force equal to the force in bight portion 33.

Thus it will be seen that a jewelry clasp is provided which is of few parts, having simple construction, and easy manufacturing assembling.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by way of example, but realizing that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention, what I claim is:

1. A jewelry clasp comprising a body member generally U shaped in the form of a jaw and provided with an ornament receiving face and a platform portion, a pivotal jaw provided with two spaced apart parallel slots, a U- shaped spring member, one end of said U-shaped spring member passing through one of said two spaced apart parallel slots, the other end of said U-shaped spring member passing through the other of said two parallel slots and extending beyond said slot to abut said platform portion, means to secure said other end of said U-shaped spring member to said platform portion and means positioned between said two parallel slots to pivotally mount said pivotal jaw to said platform portion whereby said spring member resiliently urges one end of said pivotal jaw against the underside of said ornament receiving face.

2. A jewelry clasp comprising a body member in the form of a jaw having an ornamental face, a bight portion and a platform portion provided with oppositely disposed upturned ears and oppositely disposed retaining lugs located intermediate the ends of said platform portion, a pivotal jaw provided with oppositely projecting trunnions pivotally mounted in said oppositely disposed upturned ears, and a thumb pressing area, a toothed face, and two spaced apart parallel slots, said trunnions being positioned between said parallel slots, a spring member generally U-shaped and provided with a flare to form a seat adjacent one end thereof, said flare passing through one of said parallel slots with said seat engaging an edge of said slot, the other end of said spring member lying adjacent said platform portion and secured thereto by means of said oppositely disposed retaining lugs so that said spring member causes said tooth face to abut the underside of said ornamental face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,522 Bryant Aug. 12, 1902 769,208 Coles Sept. 6, 1904 850,903 Bulkley Apr. 23, 1907 1,516,035 Adamich Nov. 18, 1924 2,300,068 Silverman Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,345 France Aug. 13, 1920 

